Stepan Schukin

Painter, teacher. Born in the family of sergeant Semyon Petrov in Moscow (1762). Educated at the Foundling Hospital in Moscow under the surname of Semyonov, which he later changed to Schukin (1782). Studied portraiture under Dmitry Levitsky at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1776–82). Awarded a major gold medal and the title of class artist (1782). Fellow of the Imperial Academy of Arts in Paris (1782–86), where he studied under Joseph-Benoît Suvée and Alexander Roslin at the Académie de peinture et de sculpture. Returned to St Petersburg (1786) and taught at the Imperial Academy of Arts (1787–1828), where he headed the portraiture class (from 1788). Academician (1798), board member of the Imperial Academy of Arts (1802). Painted portraits of Paul I (1797) and Alexander I (early 1800s) and icons for the Kazan Cathedral in St Petersburg (1804–10). Died in St Petersburg and buried at the Smolensk Cemetery (1828).